FORMER Commonwealth flyweight champion Daren Fifield, from Kennington, is returning to the boxing ring after a three-year absence next Saturday night.

Fifield, who retired in 1996 because of an ear condition which affected his balance, will fight Sudbury's Mark Reynolds in a six-rounder at Peterborough.

The bout is on the undercard of Patrick Mullings's British super bantamweight title defence against Drew Docherty, which is being televised live by Sky Sports.

If Fifield wins, he is scheduled to face Ulsterman Damaen Kelly in a British and Commonwealth championship fight in Belfast on Saturday, May 22.

However, there is some doubt about whether the Kelly fight will be allowed to go ahead, with the British Boxing Board of Control expressing concern over Fifield going straight into a big fight after so long away.

John Morris, the Board's general secretary, said this week that he would be surprised if Fifield is sanctioned as a challenger.

Morris said: "Although he is a good fighter, he hasn't boxed in three years and, at the moment, is not in the British title reckoning. "At the moment, there are very few fighters in the flyweight division who deserve a shot at the British title.

"I have written a letter to Kelly's manager, Frank Maloney, regarding the matter and await a response."

Fifield, 29, won the vacant Commonwealth crown against Danny Porter in October 1993, but lost it 14 months later to Francis Ampofo, having made one defence.

He was a junior and senior ABA champion while boxing for Abingdon ABC.

Story date: Friday 16 April

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